Seniors Eye Exams Prevent Eye Conditions that Threaten Vision

The Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends that patients 65 and up get an annual seniors eye exam.  Vision needs change as you age and professional senior eye care is imperative to overall health. Your Calgary optometrist can quickly identify and treat conditions that have no visible symptoms thus protecting your treasured eyesight.

Cataracts

Cataracts is a condition that causes varying areas of your lens to become cloudy and blurry mostly found in clients over 60 years old. A comprehensive seniors eye exam with your Calgary optometrist can easily determine if you are developing Cataracts.

You are at risk for Cataracts if:

  • Your eyes are frequently exposed to UV rays.

  • You are over 60 years of age.

  • Frequent exposure to cigarette smoke
  • You have Family history of Cataracts

Common symptoms of Cataracts include:

  • Blurry vision that can’t be corrected with glasses.

  • Changes in vision.

  • Increasing sensitivity to glare at night.

When Cataracts begin interfering with your quality of life, your Calgary optometrist may recommend you to an ophthalmologist to help surgically remove Cataracts.

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Glaucoma

Often called the silent thief of sight because you may not experience symptoms until permanent damage is done. Glaucoma is caused by degeneration of the optic nerve due to increased pressure or decreased blood flow. This condition can be detected through a comprehensive seniors eye exam, left untreated it can cause blindness. Market Mall Eye Clinic offers extended testing in our office with advanced technology such as Optical Coherence Tomography, which provides high-resolution, cross-sectional imaging of ocular tissues). You may be at greater risk if:

  • Your family has a history of glaucoma.

  • You have diabetes.

  • High blood pressure.

Treatment options depend on the severity of your condition and may include eye drops, laser surgery or surgery.

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Age Related Macular Degeneration

Age Related Macular Degeneration or AMD is the leading cause of blindness in North Americans over the age of 55. It is generally caused by normal aging process and causes the centre of your vision to blur while not affecting your peripheral vision. In the early stages, AMD is completely symptom-free but can be detected by a comprehensive seniors eye exam. There are two types of AMD: dry form and the wet form. The most common type is the Dry AMD. The 2nd form of AMD is the “wet form” caused by leakage or bleeding, from weak blood vessels under the macula. 

You may be at greater risk for AMD if:

  • You are frequently exposed to UV rays.
  • You have high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, or are obese.
  • You’re a smoker.
  • You live an Inactive lifestyle.
  • You have a family history of AMD.
  • You have a diet high in fat, cholesterol, and sugar.

Preventative measures:

  • Good Nutrition and a diet high in antioxidants such as green leafy vegetables, yellow and orange fruit, fish, and whole grains.
  • Living a healthy active lifestyle.
  • Wearing proper UV protection.

AMD Treatment Options:

  • Lifestyle changes such as exercise.
  • Ocular vitamin supplements.

  • Sunglasses to block UV rays.

  • Wet AMD can be treated with medical injections into the eye to stop leaking blood vessels.
  • Clients with sight loss due to AMD can be prescribed low vision aids.
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Presbyopia

When your eyes lose the ability to focus on close-up objects due to the lens of your eye losing elasticity and flexibility. This condition may also cause further complications with the demands of nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Presbyopia is age related and cannot be prevented, only treated. Your local Calgary optometrist may recommend the following treatment options:

  • Contact Lenses

  • Bifocals

  • Trifocals

  • Progressives
  • Monovision where dominant eye is corrected for long distance vision and the non-dominant eye is corrected for near vision.

If you experience the following symptoms you may have Presbyopia:

  • Further reading distance due to blurred vision at the regular distance.

  • Problems reading in dimly lit areas.

  • Headaches when working at a close distance.

  • Eye Fatigue.

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